US health official cautiously optimistic on Covid variant and says booster shots will be key

Hermann Kelly works for right-wing Romanian MEP who opposes ‘mandatory’ vaccines

Officials say variant’s R number is believed to be above 6, though most cases are mild

Dutch health ministry finds cases from 10 days ago, before South Africa reported variant

President says US will work to accelerate development of any updated vaccines needed

Health experts say variant appears more transmissible but vaccines offer protection

Poor air quality is estimated to cause 1,300 premature deaths annually

Germany’s 10-year government bond yield down 9 bps Friday afternoon

Throughout the pandemic, firms reached out to the communities they operate in, seeking ways to help

Charities team up to help cancer patients get most out of medical appointments

Company says tablet cuts risk of hospitalisation by 89%

Austria considering lockdown on people who are not vaccinated as cases rise across region

Forum hears women and girls at risk because of the threat of gender-based violence

Cases at near-record levels and 500,000 more deaths forecast by February

Company to submit application for US authorisation by end of the year

Issues can arise when behaviour changes, but there are benefits to gaming

Country will also reopen land borders with Canada and Mexico to vaccinated travellers

Health body names new advisory group and urges China to provide data from early cases

Facility would make up to 500m doses per year, including Covid-19 shots

World Bank and IMF should normalise lending to the country, foreign minister says

Call for Government to increase funding for sector by €85m in next month’s budget

Johnson & Johnson study looks at impact of booster two months after original vaccination

Many companies now adopt a ‘no nicotine users’ hiring policy, but is this fair?

‘Massive increase’ in unvaccinated teens being hospitalised in US due to Delta variant

WHO health emergencies programme director says NGO sector provides core services

Air pollution risk to health prompts stricter fuel standards for home fires from next year

A blanket third dose to protect Ireland against coronavirus looks increasingly likely

Understaffed and underpowered, a Brussels taskforce tries to fight a fake-news tide

Unicef campaign asked people who got a vaccine to donate the cost to someone in need

German company announces plans to test its efficacy in children under 12 and pregnant women

Chief lesson is that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, says report co-author

Philip Morris head proposes 2030 ban as tobacco firm becomes ‘wellness company’

Best chance to avoid catastrophe is tech fix by rich country in its own self-interest that works for all

Officially reported figures widely believed to undercount pandemic-related deaths

Many workers feel more under siege than ever from work messages that arrive at all hours

WHO chief says success came ‘only after decades of targeted and sustained action’

Dr Emer Cooke warns against depending too heavily on a single shot or type of vaccine

The right to switch off is needed more than ever amid a burnout epidemic

Actions will include faster vaccine turnaround and controlling animal-borne diseases

Shots will be distributed to 92 lower-income countries through COVAX programme